Number of families helped: 5,000 families and individuals annually, for a total of about 100,000

Cash distributed to food banks: Nearly $8 million

Total cash distributed: More than $51 million

Number of donors: More than 5,500 annually (more than 40 percent via the Web)

Largest donor: Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. Fund, $200,000 in 2005 and $250,000 in 2006. Ira Hirschfield, the president of the Haas Fund, helped bring the Season of Sharing concept to The Chronicle.

ABOUT THE FUND

For the past 20 years, The Chronicle Season of Sharing Fund has been the Bay Area's largest private source of direct aid for people in need of emergency financial assistance. We are proud the say that since 1986, 100 percent of the money raised for the Season of Sharing Fund has gone out to the communities we serve.

Unlike other organizations that provide relief for an indefinite period of time, The Chronicle's Season of Sharing Fund is designed to keep people on their feet with a one-time grant.

Each year, the fund helps more than 5,000 families around the Bay Area, allocating most of its grants for basic needs such as move-in costs and housing, and sometimes paying for necessities such as transportation to work, wheelchair ramps and even essential furniture for family reunification. Grants are always paid directly to the supplier of services, such as a landlord. Individuals cannot receive direct grants from Season of Sharing.

The fund, which also provides more than 400,000 meals each year for low-income families, relies on donations from readers. The money is distributed year-round.

All overhead is covered by The Chronicle and participating philanthropic organizations, so every penny of your donation goes directly to those who need it most. For more information, visit www.seasonofsharing.org.